Microfiber towels

[jonf49]

What microfiber towel do you use to dry your car?

Debating between the

Autofiber Dreadnought
Griot’s extra large PFM

I saw a video comparing the two, but am thinking about buying both to see which I like better for myself. I’m not sure whether the Griots would just be too large, and I want to be sure the Dreadnought would hold up to bi-weekly washes.

I plan to use a leaf blower before the microfiber towel and was wondering is a detail spray really necessary when finally going over the car with the microfiber? Are they soft enough not to scratch some of the dryer areas of the paint after the blower was used?

Not sure if this makes a difference, but the car will be ceramic coated.

What do you use? Suggestions?

Thoughts on the above?

[bbellz]

Originally Posted by jonf49

What microfiber towel do you use to dry your car?

Debating between the

Autofiber Dreadnought
Griot’s extra large PFM

I saw a video comparing the two, but am thinking about buying both to see which I like better for myself. I’m not sure whether the Griots would just be too large, and I want to be sure the Dreadnought would hold up to bi-weekly washes.

I plan to use a leaf blower before the microfiber towel and was wondering is a detail spray really necessary when finally going over the car with the microfiber? Are they soft enough not to scratch some of the dryer areas of the paint after the blower was used?

Not sure if this makes a difference, but the car will be ceramic coated.

What do you use? Suggestions?

Thoughts on the above?

I'd suggest this company's towels. I used the dry me a river. First I use a silicon water blade to get most of the water off them finish with the microfiber. If you just use a microfiber I'd suggest using more than one towel.

https://theragcompany.com/collections/drying-towels

[White340]

I use griots. It is a phenomenal towel. I also have the Adams one and it claims to have a higher gsm but is definitely inferior to the griot. I just let the weight of the towel dry the horizontal portions. You can dry the car in two minutes.

[jonf49]

Originally Posted by White340

I use griots. It is a phenomenal towel. I also have the Adams one and it claims to have a higher gsm but is definitely inferior to the griot. I just let the weight of the towel dry the horizontal portions. You can dry the car in two minutes.

What do you mean when you say you let the weight of the towel dry the car in horizontal portions?

In this interview.. he claims that the griot’s is “rougher” to the touch which had me a little concerned. And I wasn’t sure about drying the sides of the car - do you fold the towel a bunch?

Remember, I will be using a leaf blower.. so would you still say it is safe to drag that large towel over areas that will already be partially dried off? That’s where that softness comment concerned me.

[F82 ZCP]

My detail shop has been using nothing but the yellow microfiber towels from Costco for years. And they wash very expensive exotics. They use these towels for everything including detailing while applying ceramic pro. They told me that if they don’t get some nasty dirt or grease on them they wash them and use them again.

I personally don’t wash my car and use the waterless wash method. So I use a slightly plusher towel for applying and buffing the waterless wash product but I use the Costco towels for detailing my wheels with instant detailer because they are cheap and I can throw away

Hope this helps

[hellokitty]

Originally Posted by F82 ZCP

My detail shop has been using nothing but the yellow microfiber towels from Costco for years. And they wash very expensive exotics. They use these towels for everything including detailing while applying ceramic pro. They told me that if they don't get some nasty dirt or grease on them they wash them and use them again.

I personally don't wash my car and use the waterless wash method. So I use a slightly plusher towel for applying and buffing the waterless wash product but I use the Costco towels for detailing my wheels with instant detailer because they are cheap and I can throw away

Hope this helps

+1

You should really not need to pay over $1 per towel if we are talking about your standard size 16x16 towels.

I bought 100+ towels a few years ago on Black Friday and that stock has lasted me for 4+ years.

I usually load up on a full year of detailing supplies on Black Friday and all of that lasts me all year and some.

[White340]

Originally Posted by jonf49

What do you mean when you say you let the weight of the towel dry the car in horizontal portions?

In this interview.. he claims that the griot’s is “rougher” to the touch which had me a little concerned. And I wasn’t sure about drying the sides of the car - do you fold the towel a bunch?

Remember, I will be using a leaf blower.. so would you still say it is safe to drag that large towel over areas that will already be partially dried off? That’s where that softness comment concerned me.

Horizontal meaning the hood, roof and trunk. It's a big towel so just lay it and pull it. No pressure needed. I did two cars with it this morning. I don't find it rough but then again I have some that are softer yet they don't absorb nearly as much either.

[RoundelM3]

Griot's PFM towel - the standard size. Works great.

[SD ///M4]

Another recommendation for the Griot's PFM towel. It's large and thirsty and will dry the entire car without wringing. I've got one for my M4 and one for my wife's M3. After rinsing the car, I use the Griot's Spray Car Wax when drying with the PFM towel. All three of my BMWs have Ceramic Pro coating, so most water just beads up and rolls off.

We've been using Griot's Garage products exclusively on all of our BMWs since my wife's former 2011 335is Coupe was new. BMW CCA members get a discount.

[ONEof500]

Leaf blower then clean up with plush microfiber.

[jonf49]

Originally Posted by ONEof500

Leaf blower then clean up with plush microfiber.

Will the griots be too abrasive if a leaf blower is being used beforehand? I don’t plan to spray anything else on the car during drying. Should I be getting a more “plush” towel for my application? Anyone? Just don’t want lines or swirls.

Thing is… I’m only going to be washing this one car, so if the griots is just to hold a lot of liquid and additionally I will be using the blower, would that still be a smar choice or should be getting something more “plush”?

I know… they’re just towels… but I’d like to go about this in the way that is best for the car.

Thanks

[G35POPPEDMYCHERRY]

harbor freight

[jonf49]

Originally Posted by G35POPPEDMYCHERRY

harbor freight

[darrvao777]

Originally Posted by jonf49

Will the griots be too abrasive if a leaf blower is being used beforehand? I don’t plan to spray anything else on the car during drying. Should I be getting a more “plush” towel for my application? Anyone? Just don’t want lines or swirls.

Thing is… I’m only going to be washing this one car, so if the griots is just to hold a lot of liquid and additionally I will be using the blower, would that still be a smar choice or should be getting something more “plush”?

I know… they’re just towels… but I’d like to go about this in the way that is best for the car.

Thanks

the greatest risk of scratching a car is during the drying process so i would use a towel you are comfortable with and multiple towels if there is concern about the towels getting dirty

the general recommendation is to use a “drying aid” if you are washing with conventional soap. for me, the process is rinse, foam vehicle, two bucket wash, rinse again, blow dry off as much water as possible , dry with towels using drying aid

i do believe washing with a rinseless wash agent confers more protection to the paint if you insist on skipping the drying aid . for me, the rinseless process looks like: rinse (i know. it says rinseless and i’m starting with a rinse. rinseless means you don’t rinse after, you can and perhaps should rinse before), “foam” rinseless agent (rinseless agents do not foam but for the sake of speed, i still load it into my foam cannon to apply the solution quickly all over the vehicle), one or two bucket wash with a rinseless specific media like the ultra black sponge, skip the after wash rinse, skip the blow drying (you want to leave the rinseless solution on the paint to act as a lubricant), dry with your microfiber towels

of the towels you mentioned, i’ve used both, both are great, i really like the dreadnaught

theragcompany’s gauntlet towels are great too

[jonf49]

Thanks for your post. So you essentially wash the car, and spray it down with a drying aid or something like chemical brothers Ecosmart washless wash and wax when you’re drying it:

https://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Guys...s%2C157&sr=8-3

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00P2...KIKX0DER&psc=1

So I could just spray the whole car down after using the blower. I really got this nice blower to speed up wash time.

What other drying aids are out there that will be ok with PPF and a ceramic coating? I really don’t want to take the time to use a drying aid if I have all of this stuff to speed up the drying time. ;-/

I take the car to the high pressure self wash… they use turtle wax.

[jonf49]

Why do you like the dreadnought over the griots? Which would be better for my process?

[krudmunk]

I've been using costco yellow ones as long as I can remember. One time use and throw away. Keeps the car swirl free as long as you have some sort of ceramic detailer product on the towel. Any microfiber dry will scratch your car to certain degree.

[jonf49]

Are ceramic detailers the same as the ceramic boost coats. That could get expensive. Tight on funds at the moment… after I’m going to do this Feynlab self healing ceramic coating… which I was hoping would resolve any paint abrasion swirls etc

[jonf49]

Originally Posted by krudmunk

I've been using costco yellow ones as long as I can remember. One time use and throw away. Keeps the car swirl free as long as you have some sort of ceramic detailer product on the towel. Any microfiber dry will scratch your car to certain degree.

What kind of ceramic detailer do you use? Does it depend on what kind of coating you have?

[krudmunk]

meguiars ceramic detailer every wash and xpel ceramic boost every 1 month.

coating is coating. think of it as just another clear coat over your clear coat. no product is specific to coating.

[jonf49]

A little confused and frustrated.

So right now I’m thinking

1. pressure wash car with soap and pressure rinse. Then spotless rinse (light pressure)

2. Blow off car and wheels with leaf blower to get rid of most water

3. Spray some kind of ceramic drying agent (????) all over paint

4. Go over all paint with griots microfiber towel or dreadnought.

5. Go over wheels with small microfiber towels

Thoughts?

[krudmunk]

Originally Posted by jonf49

A little confused and frustrated.

So right now I’m thinking

1. pressure wash car with soap and pressure rinse. Then spotless rinse (light pressure)

2. Blow off car and wheels with leaf blower to get rid of most water

3. Spray some kind of ceramic drying agent (????) all over paint

4. Go over all paint with griots microfiber towel or dreadnought.

5. Go over wheels with small microfiber towels

Thoughts?

1. Pressure wash with soap and spotless rinse.
2. Blow off car and wheels.
3. Go over with griots microfiber towel.
4. Spray ceramic detailer to microfiber towel and buff out product dry to touch with another microfiber towel. Otherwise you'll get product streaks if you leave it to dry on their own.

Step 3 is not really needed. The blow dry should dry the car 99%. Spotless rinse is suppose to dry fully once you start driving with ceramic coating. But sometimes it would leave water spots near the front of the car. But not an issue if you fully dry the car with some sort of ceramic detailer or microfiber towel.